Glenbrook commuters pleased canopy is on its way

Martin B. Cassidy, Staff Writer

Published 9:35 pm, Sunday, December 26, 2010

STAMFORD -- The recent approval of $950,000 to build a platform canopy in Glenbrook came as welcome news for construction worker Miguel Mora, who said he typically waits in a running car on frigid mornings.

"It will definitely be nice," said Mora. 28, of Stamford. "You might still be cold but you won't be wet."

State Bond Commission members voted at their Dec. 10 meeting to approve funding to build the 320-foot canopy. Commuters at the nearby Springdale station have started to enjoy protection from snow, rain, and wind under a recently completed pair of canopies covering 400 feet of platform.

The station on Glenbrook Road currently has a waiting shelter with seats for eight, but no canopies.

David Bahar, an engineer for a Manhattan architectural firm who has commuted from the Springdale station for nine years, said the new canopies have made it more tolerable to wait on cold mornings.

Bahar pointed out that the windows on the canopy at the south end of the platform have yet to be installed, a final step he hopes is completed soon.

"It's a definite improvement," Bahar said. "It's been pretty good but they need to finish the windows."

State Rep. Carlo Leone, D-148th District, who lobbied for the money to be included in last year's omnibus transportation bill, said riders at the Glenbrook station deserve the amenity to stay dry in bad weather.

"The lack of a canopy has been an ongoing concern for numerous years," Leone said. "It is a highly utilized location and getting them is a small step in making that whole step better than what it is right now."

Staff Writer Martin B. Cassidy can be reached at martin.cassidy@scni.com or 203-964-2264.